Reilly began his career at newspapers in Pennsylvania and New York.[1] His reporting for the Press & Sun-Bulletin was awarded the Distinguished Investigative Reporting Award of Excellence by the New York News Publishers Association.[5] He was a finalist for the Livingston Award for Local Reporting for a 2014 report on workers in New York paid less than minimum wage.[6]
Reilly joined USA Today as an investigative reporter in 2014.[1] In 2015, he led a reporting project the Columbia Journalism Review described as a “massive investigation”[7] which identified more than 70,000 untested rape kits held by local and state law enforcement agencies in the United States. The investigation was followed by local reforms[8] and new legislation in at least 20 states addressing protocols for handling sexual assault evidence.[9] Reilly was a finalist for the 2016 Livingston Award for National Reporting for the investigation.[10]
In 2017, Reilly was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting "for a far-reaching investigation that used two ambitious data-gathering efforts to turn up 9,000 teachers across the nation who should have been flagged for past disciplinary offenses but were not."[2] The series led to national reforms for background check system for educators.[11] According to USA Today, it marked the first time the newspaper was recognized as a finalist in the investigative reporting category of the Pulitzer Prizes.[12]
Reilly has reported on the business operations of President Donald Trump, including a report detailing allegations that Trump's companies failed to pay bills to hundreds of contractors and workers[13][14] and a 2018 report on a newly formed corporation selling Trump-brand merchandise.[15] He has also shared with colleagues the Knight-Risser Prize for Western Environmental Journalism[16] and recognition from the Overseas Press Club[17] and Education Writers Association.[18]
Awards
2017 Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting[2]
2016 Finalist for the Livingston Award for National Reporting[10]
2015 Finalist for the Livingston Award for Local Reporting[3]
2012 New York News Publishers Association Distinguished Investigative Reporting Award of Excellence[5]
